Eczema and SKINSCREENS: One girl's guide to both

Meet Maddie Edwards. A qualified beauty therapist and content creator on instagram, who's all about inspiring people to love themselves and the skin they’re in. Who is also a wealth of knowledge when it comes to eczema and how to manage it alongside the use of SPF. 

Talk us through your eczema journey.

I’ve had eczema my whole life actually. It was always mild when I was young, but every year, life gets more stressful and my eczema seems to get worse! The older I get though, the more mentally equipped I am to deal with it, so it’s fine!

How does it affect you day to day?

Getting out of bed is the hardest part! I lose a lot of moisture in my skin overnight, so when I wake up in the morning, my skin’s really tight and bending my limbs at the joints feels super uncomfy. Once I’m up and moisturised, it doesn’t affect me much! Some days I can’t wear makeup or have to do a super basic skincare routine because my face is crusty, but that’s honestly as bad as it gets.

What can set off flair ups and how do you manage them?

Obviously everyone’s triggers are going to be different, but I’m lucky that over the years, I’ve been able to pinpoint mine, which has been super helpful! I know when I eat too much sugar my skin punishes me. I’m not super strict with my diet though. I’ll just make sure that I’m eating lots of anti-inflammatory foods, so that if I do have a day where I’ve eaten a lot of sugar, I feel like I’m at least trying to balance it out. I’m also not a dietician and that’s probably not how it works, but it makes my Maccas runs feel less sinful. I also don’t drink wine anymore because that flares me up immediately!! It’s sad, but I’d rather a marg anyway.

What’s your skincare routine?

BASIC! My barrier is impaired at the moment, which means my skincare routine is super boring and I can’t use anything too active. I start with an oil cleanser on my Foreo Luna 3. I’m loving Caudalie right now. Then a hyaluronic acid to keep my skin hydrated! Either Frank Body’s or The Ordinary’s. I moisturise with Go To’s Very Useful Face Cream. A face oil is essential for me and my dry skin, and I’m currently using Sunday Riley’s Juno. And then I choose which Ultra Violette SKINSCREEN I’m going to wear today hehe

Which SKINSCREEN do you recommend for those with eczema?

This is a hard Q.. my favourite is definitely Supreme Screen. Super hydrating which is perfect for dry skin with eczema. But if my eczema is really angry and red and fussy, I’ll go in with Lean Screen because I know it’s fragrance free and specifically designed for sensitive skin. So if dry/flakiness is your issue, you’ll love Supreme. If your skin is hot and red from eczema, you’ll like Lean!

Do you have any other general or lifestyle tips to help with eczema?

Stay hydrated!! Exercise daily, even if it’s just a 30 min walk. Exercise really helps your stress levels, and any eczema sufferer knows that when you’re stressed, your skin flares up more than usual. But mostly, please never ever forget that you’re not alone. What you and your skin are dealing with is normal, and very common. Rather than wishing you had perfect skin, accept it for what it is, treat your skin with the love and care it deserves, and move on.

One PSA you’d give to non eczema sufferers?

Unfortunately, not everyone grows out of eczema! People always say “oh, you have eczema? I thought only kids get that.” I freakin’ wish.

Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. Avoid prolonged high-risk sun exposure. Wear a hat, protective clothing and sunglasses when exposed to the sun. Re-apply frequently.